Food Manufacturer To Open Plant In Clinton, Employ 200

CLINTON — Food processor Globe Food Group announced plans Wednesday to move part of its operation to this Van Buren County community, along with 224 new jobs within five years.

CLINTON — Food processor Globe Food Group announced plans Wednesday to move part of its operation to this Van Buren County community, along with 224 new jobs within five years.

“We’re excited about the work force in Van Buren County and very proud to be in Clinton,” Robbie Brown, president of Global Performance Group, told about 90 people who attended the announcement.

Brown said the company will relocate its headquarters from Americus, Ga., to Clinton. He said renovations at the plant will take several weeks and the facility should be operational by the end of summer.

Renovations will cost about $3 million, for which the state provided a $2.4 million grant.

Grant Tennille, director of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission, said Clinton was due for some good news.

A tornado devastated the town in 2005, destroying a boat factory, and in 2008, Pilgrim’s Pride, the only other manufacturing facility in the county, closed its Clinton facility.

“Clinton has had more than its share of setbacks,” Tennille said.

The AEDC director stood in for Gov. Mike Beebe, who was scheduled to attend the announcement but had to cancel because of illness.

Global Food Group manufactures and repackages a large number of products, including breaded frozen chicken strips, corn dogs, Panini and potato wedges.